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1083651

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Public Footpaths
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress Natural England has made on the National Trail; and what the completion date is for that project.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>The England Coast Path (ECP) will be a 2,700 mile walking route around the coast of England. Natural England have been allocated £25.6m between 2015 and 2020 to deliver the England Coast Path.</p><p> </p><p>A summary of progress on each of the 16 open or approved stretches is included in Table A and B. The 50 unopened stretches are summarised in Table C. Estimated cost of establishment works and opening dates are provided where known.</p><p> </p><p>The ECP proposals are within scope of a European Court opinion, known colloquially as <em>People over Wind</em> (PoW), which was handed down in April 2018. The PoW opinion affects the way Natural England manage the impact of their proposals on sites with nature conservation designations. As such, the PoW court ruling has impacted on delivery of the path to date and will continue to have an impact moving forward.</p><p> </p><p>In light of this judgement and progress to date the 2020 delivery date is being reviewed. Natural England continue to work towards opening as much of the path as possible by 2020.</p><p> </p><p>To date the delivery programme has cost £18million. Establishment costs have been funded through grant in aid to Natural England. From 2018/19 Rural Development Programme for England funding has been available for local authorities to meet the cost of establishment.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table A - Open stretches</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Stretch name</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment </strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Costs (Actual)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Rufus Castle to Lulworth Cove</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">29/06/2012</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">20</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£25,000</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Allonby to Whitehaven</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">11/04/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">22</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£67,813</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North Gare to South Bents</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">12/04/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">34</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£51,306</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Sea Palling to Weybourne</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">12/12/2014</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">25</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£64,301</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Brean Down to Minehead</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">15/03/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">58</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£381,506</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Camber to Folkestone</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">19/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">29</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£19,123</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Folkestone to Ramsgate</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">19/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">37</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£99,994</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Filey Brigg to Newport Bridge</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21/07/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">68</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£65,221</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Hopton On Sea to Sea Palling</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">24/10/2016</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£79,901</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South Bents to Amble</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">26/07/2018</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">44</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£223,048</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>358</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>£1,077,213</strong></ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table B - Unopened stretches undergoing building works</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Stretch name</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in</strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment costs (Estimated)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Skegness to Mablethorpe</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">27/02/2019</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">16</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£80,484</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Newport Bridge to North Gare</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">10</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£528,979</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Whitehaven to Silecroft</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">32</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£415,949</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Walney Island</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">21</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£233,679</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Ramsgate to Whitstable</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">25</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£31,574</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Maldon to Salcott</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">27</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">£46,099</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>131</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>£1,336,764</strong></ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Table C - Unopened stretches</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Region</strong></ins></p></td><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Opening date</strong></ins></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Length in</strong></ins> <ins class="ministerial"><strong>Miles</strong></ins></p></td><td rowspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Establishment costs </strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>(Stretches)</strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">548</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(8)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">140</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(4)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">276</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(7)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">South East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">208</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(6)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">Essex</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">266</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(8)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">261</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(7)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North East</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">212</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(5)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">North West</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">302</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">(5)</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>2213</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>50</strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial">TBC</ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/03/2019 17:59:21 question first ministerially corrected 25/03/2019 10:44:48 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey previous answer version 107269 answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1083519

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: Imports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for food imports from the US of the United States - European Union Negotiations: Summary of Specific Negotiating Objectives, published by the Office of the United States Trade representative in February 2019.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
uin	229717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government welcomes the publication of the United States - European Union Negotiations: Summary of Specific Negotiating Objectives, and the more recent publication of Specific Negotiating Objectives for the UK. These publications are of course important, but do not change the Government’s view that any future trade deal must work for UK consumers, farmers and businesses.</p><p>The Government has made it clear that we will not water down our food or animal welfare standards in pursuit of any trade deal. Existing food standards on issues such as chlorinated chicken will come across through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. For hormone treated beef the UK has transposed EU Council Directive 96/22/EC into UK law, which prohibits the use of artificial growth hormones in both domestic production and imported products. This will continue when we leave the EU.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 12:09:54 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1083528

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Animals: Exports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the UK is able to end the live export of animals after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Southend West
tabling member printed	Sir David Amess
uin	229590
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>Our manifesto made it clear that we would take early steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter once we leave the EU. We launched a call for evidence last year, the findings of which we asked the Farm Animal Welfare Committee to review. Their report is expected shortly. Once we have received that report, we will consider how best to take forward the manifesto commitment. All options, including a possible ban, remain on the table.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 14/03/2019 12:00:55 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	44 label Biography information for Sir David Amess

1083556

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Insects: Conservation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the study published in the journal Biological Conservation entitled Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers, what steps his Department will take to reverse the decline of the insect population.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	229598
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2019 answer text <p>The study referred to by the Rt. Hon. Member highlights a global issue that requires both global and national action.</p><p> </p><p>UK scientists have been at the forefront of delivering assessments by the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The IPBES global assessment for pollinators concluded that wild pollinators, including many insect groups, have declined in Europe and North America. Data deficiencies precluded assessment in other parts of the world. Regional assessments came to similar conclusions for wider biodiversity, including insects. In Europe, for example, ongoing strong declines were identified in most species groups.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government acknowledges and is committed to addressing the declines. Internationally, we are determined to play a leading role in the development of an ambitious strategy under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, when its current framework expires in 2020. At the most recent Conference of the Parties to the Convention, in November 2018, we supported action such as the adoption of a global plan for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>At the national level, the Government’s indicators of the abundance of UK butterflies show long term declines since 1976 but no significant change since 2012. Our indicator of pollinating insects in the UK tells a similar story - overall distribution has declined since 1980 but has stabilised in recent years. We are keeping these trends under review as encouraging but not yet definitive signs of progress.</p><p> </p><p>The Government gathers further data on the status of UK pollinators through a UK-wide pollinator monitoring and research partnership, established in collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The 25 Year Environment Plan commits to improving the status of insects and each of the four countries of the UK has its own strategy to protect pollinators. We will continue to work in partnership with scientists and practitioners for future generations to inherit a better environment.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/03/2019 11:04:35 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1083571

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Public Consultation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consultations by his Department (a) are open, (b) are closed awaiting a Government response and (c) have been initiated since 2016.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	229742
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>All public government consultations are uploaded onto GOV.UK where one can filter consultations by many criteria, including department, official document status and date of publication. As of 12 March 2019 Defra had:</p><p>a) 9 open public consultations,</p><p>b) 14 consultations closed awaiting a government response; and</p><p>c) 116 consultations published in total from 1 January 2016.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 14/03/2019 12:11:13 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1083617

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Recycling: Nottinghamshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the recycling rates in Nottinghamshire in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	229773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra has calculated the Nottinghamshire District and Borough Councils' yearly percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting since 2015. They are as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ashfield District Council</p></td><td><p>32.5%</p></td><td><p>31.8%</p></td><td><p>41.0%</p></td><td><p>40.8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bassetlaw District Council</p></td><td><p>19.2%</p></td><td><p>20.1%</p></td><td><p>21.1%</p></td><td><p>24.8%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Broxtowe Borough Council</p></td><td><p>39.0%</p></td><td><p>38.5%</p></td><td><p>39.9%</p></td><td><p>38.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gedling Borough Council</p></td><td><p>36.2%</p></td><td><p>35.6%</p></td><td><p>36.7%</p></td><td><p>35.2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mansfield District Council</p></td><td><p>35.8%</p></td><td><p>34.5%</p></td><td><p>34.6%</p></td><td><p>32.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Newark and Sherwood District Council</p></td><td><p>27.0%</p></td><td><p>30.3%</p></td><td><p>31.9%</p></td><td><p>31.9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Rushcliffe Borough Council</p></td><td><p>49.0%</p></td><td><p>49.0%</p></td><td><p>50.4%</p></td><td><p>50.2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nottinghamshire County Council</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>42.8%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>42.5%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>44.2%</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>43.7%</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/03/2019 11:31:50 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1083644

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Natural England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the conclusions of the Prospect report The State of Natural England 2018-2019.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229787
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Natural England (NE) has a key role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment in England, delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and helping reverse the decline in biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no new duties or responsibilities Planned for NE as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and Natural England have responded rigorously to the need to balance public spending and to manage resources. NE has transformed the way it does business, working in partnership and deploying resources where they will have greatest impact.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 229789 229790 question first answered 12/03/2019 17:51:22 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1083646

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Natural England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction of Natural England’s budget on biodiversity and habitat conservation.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229789
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Natural England (NE) has a key role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment in England, delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and helping reverse the decline in biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no new duties or responsibilities Planned for NE as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and Natural England have responded rigorously to the need to balance public spending and to manage resources. NE has transformed the way it does business, working in partnership and deploying resources where they will have greatest impact.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 229787 229790 question first answered 12/03/2019 17:51:22 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1083647

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Natural England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what increased duties and responsibilities Natural England will take on after the UK leaves the European Union.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Natural England (NE) has a key role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment in England, delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and helping reverse the decline in biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no new duties or responsibilities Planned for NE as a result of the UK leaving the European Union.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and Natural England have responded rigorously to the need to balance public spending and to manage resources. NE has transformed the way it does business, working in partnership and deploying resources where they will have greatest impact.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 229787 229789 question first answered 12/03/2019 17:51:22 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1083649

registered interest
date	07/03/2019
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Natural England: Licensing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences Natural England has issued for activities which may disturb or kill European protected species in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Workington
tabling member printed	Sue Hayman
uin	229792
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2019 answer text <p>Natural England does not hold collated data prior to 2015 in a readily accessible format. From 2015 to present, Natural England has issued 10,808 European Protected Species (EPS) licences linked with activities that may ‘disturb’ a species. In the same period Natural England has issued 72 EPS licences linked with activities that may ‘kill’ a species. Totals for each year are included below:</p><p> </p><p>EPS licences issued for activities related to disturbance</p><p> </p><p>2015 – 3068 licences</p><p>2016 – 2333 licences</p><p>2017 – 2392 licences</p><p>2018 – 2507 licences</p><p>2019 – 508 licences to date</p><p> </p><p>EPS licences issued for activities related to killing</p><p> </p><p>2015 – 10 licences</p><p>2016 – 5 licences</p><p>2017 – 17 licences</p><p>2018 – 31 licences</p><p>2019 – 9 licences to date</p><p> </p><p>The majority of these licences involve the disturbance of bat species or great crested newts as a result of house building or other development activity. Smaller numbers relate to survey or research, or to different species such otter or hazel dormice.</p><p> </p><p>Each licence application is carefully assessed and must pass three legal tests:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>the activity must be of overriding public interest;</p></li><li><p>there must be no satisfactory alternative that will cause less harm to the species; and</p></li><li><p>the activity must not harm the long-term conservation status of the species (so the applicant may need to create new habitats or alternative roosting sites, for example)</p><p> </p><p> </p></li></ul> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/03/2019 17:49:08 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock